Alex Sink was preordained to run for higher office. Charlie Crist running for the U.S. Senate only makes things more convenient.

Sink is a CEO by training and temperament, making her a better fit for the governor's office.

There is no other Democrat in the race, so all resources can be devoted to the general election.But being the Democrats' only viable candidate doesn't necessarily make her a winning candidate.

On paper, Sink is ideal. She is the Democrats' answer to Crist, someone who appeals to independents and moderates in the opposing party.

But Sink's greatest selling point in 2006 will be a major weakness in 2010.

A political newcomer back then, she relied heavily on her extensive résumé with Bank of America. Who better to serve as chief financial officer than the woman who was president of Florida's biggest banking network for seven years?

Her mentor at Bank of America, current CEO Ken Lewis, said of Sink, "She's bright. She's a good communicator. She's a winner. She's driven to do all she can to succeed."

But now Bank of America has soaked up $45 billion in bailout money. Its widely reviled CEO, Lewis, earned more than $20 million in 2007 and $9 million in 2008. He has been blamed for the disastrous purchase of Merrill Lynch & Co., which has caused Bank of America stock to plunge.

Sink retired in 2000 and had nothing to do with any of this.

But details come second to perception in the political realm. So the Republicans will hammer away at the association.

It doesn't help that Bank of America just tried to sneak through legislation that shields it from maintaining foreclosed properties in Florida. It also is taking heat for jacking up interest rates on credit cards -- the current focus of congressional legislation.

I can see the ads now: Taxpayer bailouts, subprime loans, foreclosures, bad loans and corrupt lending practices -- how can we expect Sink to protect Floridians from these people if she used to be in their inner circle?

The attack is simple, brutal, hits home and takes only a few words. The response -- no matter how valid -- is more complicated and involves explanation of time frames.

It also raises a related problem for Sink.

The chief financial officer job is a low-key post and Sink is a low-key person -- a self-professed numbers nerd. So it's not like she can click off a list of accomplishments that will fire up the masses. Unlike her expected foe, Attorney General Bill McCollum, she can't crack down on gang violence and protect your children from cyber-predators.

This puts her once again in the position of having to fall back on her CEO experience as a major qualification for the governor's job.

She must link herself with her career while disassociating herself with the eventual fate of her employer.

Hence this statement in her announcement: "Before the people of Florida elected me their CFO, I spent nearly three decades in business -- creating jobs and economic opportunity in communities all across our state."

This would be tricky terrain even for an experienced politician. Sink not only is a political novice, she lacks a political temperament. She does not grandstand, champion frivolity, stroke the press and deftly deflect questions.

McCollum can do all that in his sleep. He was in Congress for 20 years, where he accepted $374,000 from banking and financial interests and sponsored legislation that would make it harder for bankrupt consumers to avoid paying credit-card debt. He then ran two unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate before getting elected as attorney general in 2006. He is an experienced debater, well-versed in the political dark arts of attack, defense and exploiting his office.

His crackdown on cyber crime all but qualifies as a publicly funded campaign. It features two ads, which prominently feature McCollum, and were produced by the company that produced his 2006 campaign ads. The company receives $1.5 million in taxpayer dollars.